New cervical cancer awareness chapter formed in Cleveland; walk planned for Jan. 30

Staff Report

Published 7:52 am, Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Being diagnosed with cancer and surviving the dreaded disease can cause profound changes to a person’s life. For Cleveland resident Sharica Lewis, surviving cervical cancer at the age of 35 has prompted her to help others by raising awareness of the disease.

Lewis, the mother of three children, underwent three weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to fight Stage 1 cancer. She is now considered cancer free.

“Cervical cancer is the second-leading cancer in women but it is rarely talked about,” Lewis said.

Lewis has formed a new chapter in Cleveland of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) and is planning a health fair and awareness walk on Jan. 30 to help get the message out to women that early detection can save lives.

According to NCCC, “Each year in the U.S. more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 4,000 die as a result. Cervical cancer is a profound health equity issue: in both the U.S. and abroad the disease is linked strongly with poverty and lack of access to medical care, a fact all the more frustrating because screening tests (Pap tests and, when appropriate, HPV tests) and vaccines exist that give us the capacity to essentially eliminate the disease.”

The Jan. 30 event will start at noon at Stancil Park in Cleveland with the walk beginning at 3 p.m. Registration may be done on the day of the event, starting at 12:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate.

The walk will start at Stancil Park, travel down Nevill St., and wind through other streets before circling back to the park. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available along the way at courtesy booths.